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signs of hope. In closing, the orator paid a fitting tribute to the 

 farmer and to the dignity of labor. The singing of the Doxology 

 by the choir, and the pronunciation of the Benediction closed 

 the exercises. 



EXERCISES AT THE DINNER. 



After the benediction, the procession again formed and directed 

 their steps to the dining hall in the Agricultural Building, where 

 a dinner for nearly one thousand persons had been provided in 

 excellent style by Howard & Gregory of Boston. 



Due time was devoted to the dinner, after which the President 



rose and said that he was glad to meet the company before him 



on another anniversary of the Norfolk Agricultural Society. He 



congratulated them on the presence of their distinguished guests, 



and of the mothers and daughters of old Norfolk, who gave the 



encouragement of their smiles and approbation. He had come 



there to-day at great personal sacrifice, and he had not the heart 



or the health to occupy any further time. He would, therefore, 



announce the first sentiment : — 



Massachusetts — Her just appreciation of the honorable pursuits of in- 

 dustry, and the respect which she pays to those who by their intelligence, 

 enterprize and energy, contribute to her prosperity, have elevated her to 

 a high position among the States of the Union. The name of AVinthrop is 

 closely allied with that of Massachusetts, and will ever be cherished by her 

 sons in grateful remembrance. 



Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, on being introduced, was received 

 with much applause. He responded in an admirable speech, of 

 which the following is a brief sketch. 



After thanking the audience for the cordial manner in which he had been 

 received, Mr. W. said that, in rising to respond to the complimentary call 

 which had just been made upon him, he felt a peculiar satisfaction in recall- 

 ing a remark which had fallen from the President, not many days ago, in a 

 casual conversation, in reply to an expression of his unfeigned reluctance to 

 being involved in the necessity of making a speech on this occasion. " We 

 want no long or formal speeches," said he ; '^ five minutes is enough for any 

 speech at a dinner table." Mr. W. cordially concurred in this idea, and 

 had come with a full purpose of conforming to it. He would avoid any 

 further preamble, lest he should bo driven to the lamentable necessity, so 

 prevalent in other quarters, of asking for an extension. 



Mr. Winthrop proceeded to say that he was not there as a volunteer visi- 

 tor of the Norfolk Show, but as the appointed delegate of the State Board 

 of Agriculture, to whom he should be bound to make a report in due time 

 of what he had seen and heard. To that report he would leave all particu- 

 lar reference to the mammoth vegetables and beautiful fruit which abounded 

 in the hall below, and to the fine stock and fast horses which hacj tieen e.\-: 

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